Windmill



(No Model. 7 2 Sheet'sSheet 1.

G. W. WINTERS.

WINDMILL.

No. 313,148. Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

G. W. WINTERS.

W-INDMILL.

Patented Mar. '3, 1885.

,NITED STATES PATENT GEORGE \V. WINTERS, OF KNOXVILLE, IOlVA.

WINDMILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,148, dated March 3, 1885.

Application filed June 23, 1884. (No m'del.)

To all whom it 72mg cancern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WINTERS, of Knoxville, in the county of Marion and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wind-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in horizontal wind-wheels, the object of the same being to provide a device of this character with hearings in which the amount of friction will be reduced to a minimum; a further object being to provide improved means for throwing the vanes out of the wind; a further object being to provide vanes whereby the centrifugal force of the wheel when in motion will automatically adjust the same to the wind; and a further object being to provide a device of this character which will be simple and economical in construction and durable and efficient in use; and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a view of thetruck and rollers. Fig. 4 is a view of the upper section of the hub, showing the cam. Fig. 5 is a detached view of a cam attached to the force rod; and Fig. 6 is a view of my improved vane.

a represents a frame or support of suitable construction to which my improved windwheel is attached, and is provided with the cross-barb, suitably secured across the central portion of the frame, and is centrally provided with the metallic box 0. The head of the frame a is provided with a vertical bore, (Z, in which is set the elongated box or sleeve e,the latter having a broad annular flange or plate, f, secured to its upper end, and resting in contact with the upper surface of the frame-head. The flange or plate f is provided with the circular grooved track adapted to receive the rollers h of the circular truck 2', which latter revolve thereon. The truck 2' is slanted or inclined upwardly and inwardly on its outer face toward the box or sleeve e, and is provided with the rollersh, which are loosely secured thereto, by means of the axial studs k, at an angle of about forty-five degrees. AS will be seen, the construction of the truck is such that it rests entirely upon the rollers h, and so avoids all frictional contact with the box 6. The lower section, at, of the hub is provided with radial grooves n and the central bore, 0, and on its under face with the circular groove 1), by means of which it is adapted to rest and revolve upon the rollers h of the truck. The upper section, q, of the hub is also provlded with radial grooves r, adapted to register with those ,in the lower section, m, thus forming spoke-sockets s, and is further provided wlth a central bore, 2, adapted to register with the bore 0 in the said lower section. The upper section, q, is provided with the annular camflange a, formed integral therewith, or attached thereto. The upper and lower sections of the hub are secured together by means of bolts, rivets, or in any other suitable manner. The hollow shaft w passes loosely through the boxes 0 and e, and is rigidly secured at its upper end to the lower section, m, of the hub in any suitable manner. The lower end of the hollow shaft 10 is cut away,forming the recess, which is adapted to receive the flanged cam b, which is rigidly secured thereto, and formed, as shown, so as to equalize the strain or resistance to the motion of the wheel, whereby the wheel has more power. The rotary mo tion of the cam -fiange communicates a reciprocating motion to the force-rod 0 by means of a yoke or, U-shaped projection, cl, secured thereto, the branches of which loosely embrace the rim of the flange, the force-rod c being attached to the frame in such manner as to allow a free vertical movement, and at the same time be held against transverse play.

Through the hollow shaft w and the box 6 passes the operating'rod e, the lower end of which is pivotally secured to the lever f, said lever being suitably attached to the frame a. The upper end of said operating-rod is rigidly secured to the center of the cross-bar g, the latter extending diametrically across and being rigidly secured to a wheel, h. The crossbar 9 is adapted to rest in contact with the double cam a, secured to the upper-hub section, q. The wheel h is provided with a series of perforations, z", in its rim, one for each vane. A series of horizontal spokes, j, are secured in the spoke-sockets s. The said spokes are bent, as shown,:and provided with the holes or indentures k and Z, adapted to re ceive the outer ends, m, of the pivotal rods 11, which are rigidly secured to the vanes 0,slightly above their center of gravity. The vanes 0 are preferably made involute, as shown, and

are strengthened by means of the braces 19. The upper central portion of the inside of each vane is provided with a ring or loop, q, to receive and serve as a connection for the rods 1''. The opposite ends of said rods are adapted to enter the perforations t in the rim of the wheel h and be locked therein.

For the'purpose of keeping dirt and rain from the shaft and boxes, I provide a circular oval-shaped cap, 8, having a central perforation adapting it to fit the operatingrod c.

It will be readily seen that, by providing the cam on the upper hub, and securing the vanes pivotally to the spokes and the rod to the upper portion of the vane, and securing the said rod to the ring attached to the cross-bar, the

vanes will automatically be adjusted to the action of the wind. WVhen the same is very strong, the lower ends of the vanes,being heaviest, will be thrown outward by the centrifugal force of the wheel when in motion, the inward motions of the upper ends being caused thereby, this action being allowed by the partial rotation of the wheel h, which causes the cross-bar g to travel down the reverse camfiange u, thus insuring regularity of speedand power, regardless of the force of the wind. When it is desired to stop the wheel, the vanes may be brought to the desired position by means of the rod 6, which is operated by the lever f. When the lever is lowered,it causes the cross-bar g to travel down the reverse cam-flange, thereby causing a partial rotation of the wheel h, by means of which the vanes are brought flat on the spokes, thus throwing the wheel out of the wind.

If desired to reduce the speed of the wheel, the vanes are provided with weights, the heavy end passing over the pivot-rods n, andthe opposite end being secured to the vanes, increas ing the centrifugal force and causing the vanes to occupy a slanting position, and thus take less wind. The leverf may also be provided with weights to regulate the speed ofthe wheel, and locking devices for securing the same in any desired adjustment.

This device is simple in operation and durable and efficient in use. 7

It is evident that slight changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts of my improvement might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention; and hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a windmill, the combination, with a hub provided with spokes, and vanes pivoted to the spokes, of a double cam-flange secured to the upper end of the hub, a cross-bar resting. on the double cam, and devices connecting the cross-bar and upper portions of the vanes, substantially as set forth.

2. In a windmill, the combination, with ahub provided with spokes, and vanes secured to the spokes, of a double cam-flange secured to the upper end of the hub, a cross-bar engaging the double cam, a Wheel secured to said cross-bar, and rods connecting the wheel and upper portions of the vanes, substantially as set forth.

3. In a windmill, the combination, with a hub provided with a double cam-flange, and further provided wit-h spokes bent at their outer ends and having recesses adapted to receive the pivotal rods of the vane, of involute or irregular vanes rigidly secured to said pivotal rods, and a cross-bar resting on the cam, a ring or wheel secured to said bar, and rods connecting the vanes and ring, substantially as set forth.

4. In a windmill, the combination, with a supportingframe, a flanged head or sleeve resting on said frame, a shaft passing through said head or'sleeve and provided with a hub, a truck located between said flanged head or sleeve and hub, spokes radiating from the hub, vanes pivoted to the spokes, and a doublecam secured to the hub, of a cross-bar resting on said cau1,and devices connecting said crossbar and vanes, substantially as set forth.

5. In a windmill, the combination, with a hollow shaftjournaled in suitable bearings in the head of a supporting-frame, of a windwheel the hub of which is secured to the upper portion of said shaft, said wheel having on its upper face a double cam. and an operating-rod passing through said hollow shaft, the lower end of said rod being pivotally secured to a lever, and the upper end thereof being rigidly secured to a cross-bar in contact with said double cam, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE XV. XVINTERS. Witnesses:

G. L. BOYDSTON, O. J. KENDIG.

IIO 

